Sunday, 20 August 2006 10:59 PM
By Michael Tsoukalis
Brazilian maestro Fernando Moraes and exciting youngster Gianni DeNittis have put on a master-class, both scoring doubles in South’s 5-1 demolition of the Frankston Pines and ensuring their relegation – back to State 1 – in the process.
Coach John Anastasiadis sent out a more attacking formation, bringing in DeNittis to lead the attack alongside Oliveira who had spent the last month or so playing a lone hand up front.
Anastasiadis lined his chargers up as follows. Veteran custodian Dean Anastasiadis took up his customary position in between the uprights. Defensively South began with a central pairing of Dino Djulbic and Con Blatsis with Rama Tavsancioglu and Tansel Baser playing in the right and left-back roles respectively.
In the centre of the park Antonio Naglieri played in a more defensive role whilst Scot MacNicol was given license to go forward. Out wide youngster Nick Curtis started on the right flank with Fernando Moraes on the left. Up front rising youngster Gianni DeNittis partnered the diminutive Andreas Oliveira.
South got off to a flying start as early as the 6th minute after a deep corner from the right by Moraes found an unmarked Tavsancioglu who rose superbly well and with perfect technique crashed his angled header in off the right upright and past hapless Frankston custodian Kieran McIvor.
It wasn’t long before the Pines drew level punishing a static South who allowed far too much space and time for Craig Metcalfe to unleash a pile-driving angled strike from 25 yards out that caught Dean Anastasiadis unawares and crashed into the bottom right corner of the net.
The effort stunned the South faithful who over the past three encounters at Bob Jane Stadium have witnessed some superb opposition strikes.
However, the goal sprung South into action with Naglieri testing McIvor in the 16th minute after the South midfielder produced a swirling strike from outside the box that saw McIvor save at full stretch for a corner.
South blew a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 31st minute when Moraes turned and had a strike from 12 or so yards out with his effort going straight at McIvor who did well to hold onto the ball.
Four minutes later and South blew another golden chance. This time Tavsancioglu had done brilliantly to escape the Franskton defence and create a two-on-one situation. Tavsancioglu played the ball into the path of DeNittis – albeit helped by a deflection off a Frankston defender – who with only McIvor to beat saw the Frankston custodian read his side-foot effort well and subsequently block.
McIvor denied South again on 39 minutes after Moraes found himself with a free header after good work down the right by the home side. Unfortunately for South Moraes headed far to close to McIvor who did well to save. A fraction either side of the Frankston custodian and South would’ve been ahead.
A minute later and Moraes saw a vicious strike smash into an unsuspecting Frankston defender’s back when the ball look headed for the back of the net. It appeared that South were going to have another frustrating night in front of goal.
Just before half time DeNittis put the South faithful at rest with a superbly taken goal. A quality cross was whipped in from the right with the ball bouncing in front of DeNittis. The South striker intelligently attempted a looping header which saw McIvor stranded as he watched the ball cross the line to give South a 42nd minute lead.
South started the 2nd half with a small fright after Anastasiadis misjudged a Frankston through ball and subsequently found himself in “no-mans” land. The South custodian was rounded but thankfully for the home side the covering defence was sufficient in dealing with the threat.
In the 60th minute a poor clearance by the visitors saw MacNicol with heaps of time to unleash an effort from 20 or so yards out. The ex-Brechin player struck a decent effort that forced a superb save from McIvor.
South iced the game in the 70th minute after a breathtaking turn and pass from DeNittis saw the youngster release Moraes one-on-one with McIvor. The Brazilian picked his spot and smashed his effort past the Frankston keeper.
Two minutes later and Moraes repaid DeNittis. The Brazilian floated past a couple of defenders down the left flank and played a low square ball to DeNittis who at full stretch managed to latch onto the effort and smash it past McIvor who had no chance of saving.
Moraes rounded off the scoring in the 88th minute after DeNittis again played the Brazilian through one-on-one with a quality ball. Moraes though still had a bit to do with the Brazilian sensation using his quick feet to wrong foot McIvor, finishing off the move with low and hard effort to the Frankston keeper’s right.